Maritime Company Growing in New Albany
The American Queen Steamboat Co. is HMS Global Maritime's overnight cruises division.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNew Albany-based HMS Global Maritime is expanding its Floyd County headquarters and creating up to 50 jobs by the end of 2022. The company and its American Queen Steamboat affiliate plan to invest nearly $800,000 to renovate a newly-purchased historic building in downtown New Albany.
Work is underway on the facility, which will house a training and customer service center to train up to 300 hospitality and hotel trainees each year. The training center is expected to be fully operational by the fall. The American Queen Steamboat Co. is HMS Global Maritime’s overnight cruises division.
The company currently employs 56 associates in its two New Albany facilities and Clark County warehouse. It says the growth will allow it to support operations throughout the United States. Hiring is expected to begin this summer for customer service and hospitality positions.
"At HMS Global Maritime and American Queen Steamboat Company, our philosophy is to push ourselves to not only be a world-class company, but to commit to delivering an uncompromising customer experience by providing our employees the very best in training, support and skills to be successful," said HMS Global Maritime Chief Executive Officer John Waggoner in a release. "This proposed training center in the heart of downtown New Albany would not only help us maintain the quality workforce we need to succeed, but also bring hundreds of visitors to our hometown annually. It is the very definition of a win-win situation."
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has offered HMS Global Maritime up to $450,000 in conditional tax credits based on the job creation plans. The city of New Albany is considering additional incentives.